Burial vault



June 2l, 1938.I J. F. MYERS BURIAL VAUL'I' Filed April 6, 1937 PatentedJune 21, 1938 NETE@ STATES PATENT ortica 3 Claims.

This invention relates to burial vaults, and it has for its object toprovide a simple and inexpensive vault of substantially an imperishablenature and one in which a casket may be sealed in such manner as to beforever protected from water or moisture, even though buried in theVground.

The invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the base of the vault;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, and

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional View of a burial vaultconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several guresof the drawing.

In carrying out the invention, I first form a base 5 of reinforcedconcrete, the reinforcing being indicated at 6. This base is providedwith a groove or channel 'I in its upper face, which eX- tends all theway around the base and receives the lower edge vof the vault cover 8.This vault cover is also made of reinforced concrete and is providedwith a non-corrosive metallic lining 9, which is preferably of zinc.

This lining ycovers all parts of the inner face of the cover 8 andextends downwardly to such a point that when the lower edge of the coveris seated in a rich, water-proof, cement grouting IIJ, placed Within thechannel I, the lower edge of the Zinc lining will be covered by saidgrouting, so that no water can enter either to the interior oi the vaultor between the zinc lining and the inner face of the cover 8.

In use, the casket, indicated in` dotted lines at II, is placed upon thebase 5. Then the channel I is lled with the rich water-proof groutingID, and the cover 8 is placed in position over the casket, with itslower edge seated in channel l. When the grouting hardens, cover 8 andbase 5 will be converted into a substantially monolithic structurewithin which the casket is sealed.

I may provide handles I2upon the cover section and I3 upon the basesection. I have shown these as being embedded in the concrete" andengaged with the reinforcing mesh for purposes of strength, but I wishit to be clearly understood that the invention contemplates any suitabletype of handle and any point of location for the same.

In the formation ofthe cover 8, the Zinclining 9 may be caused to servethe double function of a non-corrosive lining for the cover and a formelement defining accurately the inner face of the cover. That is to say,instead of having to use inner and outer forms, it is possible to makethe lining itself serve as the inner form for the cover 8.

While I have shown a conventional wire mesh 6 as the reinforcing elementfor base 5 and a con- Ventionalwire mesh reinforcing element I4 for 5the cover 3, I wish it to be understood that simple rods or otherreinforcing elements may be used in this relation.

Further, while I have described the inner lining 9 as being made ofsheet zinc (for example, 10 24 gauge), I wish it to. be understood thatthe invention contemplates the use of any suitable sheet metal in thisrelation. It is only essential that the metal employed be stiff enoughto maintain its form during construction of the cover and 15non-corrosive enough in its nature to resist dis-d integration throughrust or otherwise, when buried in the ground over a long period of time.

After the cover has been applied to the base 5 to seal the caskettherein, an additional sealing may be provided at I5 by the applicationof additional water-proof grouting or by the application of anysuitable, water-resistant bituminous product such as tar, asphalt or thelike.

Under these conditions it will be impossible for g any Water to everfind its way to the casket, and this is rendered doubly certain lby thefact that the cover 8, above base 5, has no openings of any kind thereinfor the escape of air, and consequently, even if the joint at groove 'Ishould 30 leak, the pressure of air in the interior of the vault wouldprevent the entry of any water. Further, it is well known that there isa generation of certain gases during body decomposition which would tendto build up a certain pressure in the 35 hermeticaily sealed casketwhich would further insure against the entry of any water.

The casket may be seated on suitable transverse cleats to be heldslightly spacedfrom base 5 to prevent moisture from affecting the casketthrough base t. To further guard against this possibility, this base asa whole is made of a waterrepellent concrete.

A feature that I deem to be ofgreat importance is the use oi' theimperforate, non-corrosive sheet metal in a lining co-extensive in areawith the entire inner surface of the cover and the extending of thislining to a point sufliciently low to insure that it will be embedded inthe waterproof cement grouting which unites the cover and y base.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction set forth, but that it includes within its purview whateverchanges fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of theappended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: l 1. A burial vaultcomprising a base of a material impenetrable by water and having acontinuous channel in its upper face adjacent the edge thereof, animpervious cover, the lower edge of which is adapted to have a seatingin said channel, a lining for the cover, the lower edge of which extendsinto said channel, and a sealing means filling said channel and unitingcover and base and extending above the lower edge of the lining` 2. Astructure as recited in claim 1 wherein said lining is of zinc.

3. A burial vault of the character described comprising a flat,water-resistant base portion, of sucient area to support a casketthereon and having a channel extending therearound in its upper face andadjacent its edges, a cover of water-resistant concrete having an openbottom and otherwise continuous and imperforate and adapted to cover andhouse a casket seated upon the base, the lower edges of said cover beingshaped and dimensioned to have a seating in said channel, a sealing bodyof Water-resistant, cementitious material uniting the lower edge of thecover and the base, and a lining of Zinc coextensive in area with theinterior of the cover and forming a continuous lining therefor at allpoints, the lower edges of said lining extending downwardly into saidchannel to be embedded in the cementitious material by which the coveris united to the base.

' JOSEPH F. MYERS.

